Provisions for Serving People with Dementia in the State of Oregon

Oregon has a separate set of rules for Alzheimer's Care units which apply to nursing facilities, residential care facilities and assisted living facilities with the exception of adult foster homes.

Any facility that offers or provides care for residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia in an Alzheimer's Care Unit must obtain an endorsement on its facility license. The Alzheimer's Care Unit must be designed to accommodate residents with dementia in a home-like environment. The design and environment of a unit should assist residents in their activities of daily living, enhance their quality of life, reduce tension, agitation, and problem behaviors and promote their safety. The rules further clarify physical building standards.

Every effort must be made to provide residents with familiar and consistent staff members in order to minimize resident confustion. All direct care staff assigned to the Alzheimer's Care Unit must be specially trained to work with residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Staffing must be sufficient to meet the needs of the residents. Staffing levels on the night shift depend on the sleep patterns and needs of residents (without control of sleep by medications).

Admission criteria into an Alzheimer's unit requires at a minimum, a physician's diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.

All facilities with Alzheimer's Care Units must provide for activities appropriate to the needs of the individual resident. Activities which must be offered to the residents at least weekly include:

• Gross motor activities: exercise, dancing, gardening, cooking, etc.,
• Self care activities: dressing, personal hygiene/grooming, etc.,
• Social activities: games, music, etc.,
• Crafts: decorating, drawing pictures, painting, etc.,
• Sensory enhancement activities: distinguishing, pictures and picture books, reminiscing and scent and tactile stimulation
• Outdoor activities: walking outdoors, field trips, etc.

A social worker or an assigned staff member should be available to provide social services to both the resident and support to family members.

Tours are available and encouraged.